Sonia Gandhi can't understand the plight of poor: Modi

Published By : Admin | May 7, 2009 | 11:02 IST

Pithoragarh (Uttrakhand): Accusing the Congress of "failing" to contain inflation in the country, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the party made the life of "aam aadmi very difficult" economically during its rule.

Addressing his first election rally in Uttrakhand, Modi alleged that the Congress has not been able to address the problems of the poor as its leaders have never experienced such hardships and "they talk about the poor while sitting in the air-conditioned rooms".

"Having never seen poverty, Sonia Gandhi cannot understand the plight of crores of people in the country, who go to bed every night without meal," the BJP leader alleged.

Modi said that in the last 60 years of independence, Congress has ruled the country for 55 years,"but thousands of villages in the country are still waiting for drinking water and medical facilities and Rahul Gandhi talks of poverty while sitting in air condition rooms."

On the issue of the black money stashed in foreign banks, Modi cited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's statement that out of every rupees spent by Centre for the poor, only 10 paise reaches to them.

"The remaining 85 paise which went to the corrupt officers and leaders during the last 60th years are lying in foreign banks. If it comes back to the country, it can change the lives of crores of people," he claimed.

Modi attacked the Congress and UPA for its "failure to check terrorism in the country" and alleged the government did not understand the plight of families that have sacrificed their children to protect the country from the terrorists.

The BJP leader alleged that "while 'SRP'(Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka) are always after me and taking note of my every activity, they have not been able to implement the 20-point programme launched by late Rajiv Gandhi even in the Congress ruled states."

The Gujarat Chief Minister claimed that his state stands first in the implementation of the programme.

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PM to visit Kerala on 23rd January
January 22, 2026
PM to lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and flag off various development projects in Thiruvananthapuram
Projects span key sectors including rail connectivity, urban livelihood, science and innovation, citizen-centric services, and advanced healthcare
PM to launch the PM SVANidhi Credit Card and also disburse PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries
PM to flag off three Amrit Bharat Express which will enhance rail connectivity across Kerala
PM lay the foundation stone for the CSIR–NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on 23rd January, 2026. At around 10:45 AM, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and flag off various developmental projects in Thiruvananthapuram. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

The projects span key sectors including rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, citizen-centric services, and advanced healthcare, reflecting Prime Minister’s continued focus on inclusive growth, technological advancement and improved quality of life for citizens.

In a major boost to rail connectivity, Prime Minister will flag off four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train. These include the Nagercoil-Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express, Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express, and a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur. The introduction of these services will significantly enhance long-distance and regional connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, making travel more affordable, safe and time-bound for passengers. The improved connectivity will provide a strong impetus to tourism, trade, education, employment and cultural exchange across the region.

As part of efforts to strengthen urban livelihood, Prime Minister will launch the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility will provide instant liquidity, promote digital transactions, and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories. Prime Minister will also disburse PM SVANidhi loans to one lakh beneficiaries, including street vendors from Kerala. Since its inception in 2020, PM SVANidhi scheme has enabled first-time access to formal credit for a large majority of beneficiaries and has played a critical role in poverty alleviation and livelihood security among urban informal workers.

In the field of science and innovation, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The hub will focus on life sciences and the bio-economy, integrate traditional knowledge systems such as Ayurveda with modern biotechnology, sustainable packaging, and green hydrogen, and promote startup creation, technology transfer, and global collaboration. It will serve as a platform for converting research into market-ready solutions and enterprises.

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure will be another key focus of the visit. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram. The facility will provide highly precise, minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders, enhancing regional tertiary healthcare capabilities.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the new Poojappura Head Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram. This modern, technology-enabled facility will offer a comprehensive range of postal, banking, insurance and digital services, further strengthening citizen-centric service delivery.